New rifle and brass question

[nwflycaster]

I'm looking for some advise. I have a new 6BR with 1:8 twist that I will be getting into some prone shooting with. My question is should I go through and fireform the brass and break in the barrel not trying to work up a load until second time through? or just neck size and start looking for an accurate load right out of the gate. My brass is Lapua and I have a box of 500 Berger VLD's and Varget. For primers I have both CCI450's and Federal 205M's.

What are your thoughts.



Jeff

 

[Immike]

I would go straight to work on sighting in and loads. By the time you are fire formed you will have a head start on micro tuning at longer ranges.

 

[A_Gamehog]

Immike is right,

A barrel has only so many rounds in it. You start subtracting from that total with your first shot. Sounds like you have
a good start with your componets.

 

[Shynloco]

Jeff,
IMHO, whether you shoot break in and fireform at the same time depends on the barrel you have. In other words, if you have a "general production" 6mmbr rifle such as made by Savage or another reputable company, you simply don't know if that barrel was hand lapped or not. If you on the other hand, you have bought a Match Grade barrel from say Lilja, Kreiger, Hart, or one of the well known barrel manufacturers, you can be safe to feel that the barrel was lapped meaning no minuit particles would cause you any internal barrel scratches = no break in needed and ready to go. Now I believe and most any Benchrest shooter will tell you that even Lapua brass needs a two "break-in" cycles for fireforming before they're ready for serious, competitive shooting. Because I don't compete and have the Savage Model 12 Benchrest rifle, I shot a 40 round break in for the aforementioned reason. That consisted of what I use for all general productions rifles which is: 1 shot/clean X 5; 5 shots/clean X 3; 10 shots/clean X2 - ready to go for accuracy. That's what I follow, but also keep a record of how many total rounds you've sent down the tube. Sure barrels are expensive, but if you want ultimate accuracy, you must have a quality barrel and must know how to treat it regardless of the number of rounds you send down her. Good luck and have fun. BTW, You might want to tell us the kinds of distances you are planning on shooting so that more suggestions might be forthcoming in terms of bullets/loads to try.

Alex

 

[jbpmidas]

I'm not a benchrester, I'm an F-Class guy, so that is where my experience comes from. When I get a new rifle or barrel, I break in and zero at the same time. If it's a factory rifle, such as my 223 LRPV, I loaded enough to do a little preliminary accuracy testing. If it's a "custom," I go straight to my ladder test. I only have two "customs," a Krieger barrel and a Brux barrel. If memory serves, neither took over 5 shots before I was satisfied that break-in was complete.

 

[nwflycaster]

Everything is match grade and is set up as follows:

Master Class Prone stock (walnut) turned out beautiful
Barnard P action w/ trigger
Bartlien barrel prone contour

I will be mounting a nightforce on it for load testing then pulling that back off and puting on:

Warner# 2 rear w/ Geyman iris
Riles 30mm front with Centra adjustable

I will have absolutely no excuses, if there's a bad shot down range... it's the dweeb behind the rifle.

This will be being used for 500 and 600 yard prone (with sling) matches.

Oh, and the bullets I have are the Berger 105 gr VLD.
I'm sure glad I purchased components for reloading before I got the rifle as who knows how long I would have to wait to fire the first shot from a beautiful rifle

 

[Shynloco]

Looks to me like you are a serious shooter ready to do the deed. No need for breakin with that rig. Just do the fireforming thing and you should be ready. And you also realize you have now backed yourself into a corner like many of us. Excuse days are over and it's time to put up. But we'll give you some slack because it still takes some time to get used to and feel comfortable with any new rifle. But overall, looks like you have a quality setup and ready to compete. BTW, should you decide to drop down in distance to say 100 -200 yds, might I suggest you give Bart's 68 gr Ultras a try. They shoot extremely well at 100 - 200 in my Savage 1:8 Model 12 Benchrest being pushed by 31 gr of VVN133. Have fun and good luck...now go shoot that new baby!

Alex

 

[nwflycaster]

Thanks Alex, I'm so looking forward to late next month and a 300 yard prone match that is happening a couple hours drive north of me. Hopefully I will be ready for it, if not I've got a 6ppc and use the same bullet and powder combo you mentioned but at 29.2 gr.
I hope to give em' heck but there are some very high caliber prone shooters locally that are extremely hard to topple. I'll do my damdest to keep em' honest anyway. I can shoot the cleans, but I've gotta bump up my x counts.

 

[spclark]

Shoot first, test (& maybe turn necks a bit?) later.

30.0 grains Varget, either of those two primers. Try a few 105's maybe 0.020" off, a few more 0.010" off, three or four "on the lands."

Forget the barrel break-in. Today's match-grade barrels, fitted & chambered by skilled 'smiths don't really need it.

 

[Shynloco]

30.0 grains Varget, either of those two primers. Try a few 105's maybe 0.020" off, a few more 0.010" off, three or four "on the lands."

Tried all those settings and powder combinations on several outtings to the range and never shot as well in my particular rifle as did the 68 gr Barts being pushed by VVN133. Shot the 30.2 grs Varget pushing Sierra 107's load in a friend's Borden custom rig and shot light out. Boils down to a particular rifle liking a particular load and combination.

Alex

 

[Rtheurer]

+ one to SPClark

Load and shoot. First match you will be a lil rusty anyway. Im sure your not a Dweeb and expect you to beat Bud Solis and Asa Yam next time youshoot with them. Or any of the Washington Jr's.
Indeed no excuses now. Ha!

RussT

 

[nwflycaster]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Russ. Yeah, Bud, Wayne, brianna and Gary are some pretty tough local competitors. You gotta be on top of your game if you want to compete with them. I've watched Bud shoot 200 - 19x multiple times.